Pressure points

The past year’s economic woes have refocused management attention on embedding and fine-tuning the precision and flow of key business operations. Attention to detail and a clear long-term plan are the principal requirements when probing a firm’s productivity levels.

Editor's letter
Regardless of your political persuasion, one of the biggest stories surrounding the recent Europe-wide elections was, in fact, how small they turned out to be.

Feature
Financing change
Sound financial management should be a strategic priority for any business as the unpredictable economic climate continues. For any law firm planning to attract external investment, however, the bar may well need to be raised much further.

Feature
Paying your way
Any adjustment in remuneration policy is likely to be one of the thornier issues for management to grapple with in response to the economic downturn.

Feature
Advances in e-billing
Law firms can derive internal benefits from an e-billing investment, as well as offering clients greater cost transparency.

News
Beachcroft buys Welsh insurance business
UK COMMERCIAL law firm Beachcroft LLP has announced the acquisition of Newport-based defendant insurance business Kingslegal.

News
Chief exec change for Shoosmiths
THE CHIEF executive of Shoosmiths, Paul Stothard, has decided to leave the firm one year into his third term in the role.

News
K&L Gates opens doors in Dubai
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm K&L Gates LLP has established its first presence in the Middle East with the opening of an office in Dubai.

News
Eversheds profits drop 27 per cent
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Eversheds has released its financial results for 2008/2009, posting profits per equity partner (PEP) of £404,000.

News
Salans and Pinsent Masons announce alliance
INTERNATIONAL LAW firms Salans and Pinsent Masons have announced an alliance that will see them refer work to each other and collaborate on multi-jurisdictional bids.

Special
Profile: Neville Eisenberg
Recently re-elected for a fourth successive term at the top, Berwin Leighton Paisner managing partner Neville Eisenberg tells Richard Brent how the leadership role has continued to challenge and motivate him.

Feature
Considering the alternatives
Beyond the theoretical contemplation of more ‘creative’ billing structures, what follows is an attempt at a more tangible analysis of some alternative fee arrangements for law firms.

News
Don’t bank on it
Law firms can no longer afford to countenance any lingering complacency when it comes to providing clear evidence of strong financial management.

Feature
Called to account
Risk management needs be a powerful presence in all four of the key stages of a matter’s financial lifetime: budgeting, matter opening, work in progress and accounts receivable.

News
Travers Smith names new managing partner
TRAVERS SMITH has chosen employment head Andrew Lilley to succeed Chris Carroll as managing partner from 2010.

News
CMS Cameron McKenna sees ‘reasonable results’
CMS CAMERON McKenna has announced an increase in turnover from £235m to £240m for the financial year to 30 April 2009.

News
Bingham bags London tax partner
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Bingham McCutchen has hired a tax partner for its London office.

News
Law firms to receive fraud warnings
THE SOLICITORS Regulation Authority (SRA) is issuing ‘warning cards’ to 11,000 law firms in England and Wales, alerting them to four potential compliance concerns.

Feature
Getting better (at getting better)?
As the climate of uncertainty continues, law firms may wish to consider whether their investment in management information in recent years has paid a clear dividend.